Wire splicing device



Dec. 20, 1932. o. w. BRENIZER WIRE SPLIOING DEVICE med May e, 1952 2 sneets-sheet 1 7m m e v w .lw s 8., 3 s

5 4 o J6 7 f HO/ ov E z l r! T 6 m WAO 6J 7 M 0 Dec- 20, 1932- o. w. BRENIZER WIRE SPLICING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 6, 1952 Invenoi" Orson, WE reni/zer Imi Figure 7 Patented Dec. 20, 1932 PATENT OFFICE ORSON W. BRENZEB., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA WIRE SPLICING DEVICE Application led May 6, 1932. Serial No. 609,584.

This invention relates to improvements in wire splicing or twistingdevices particularly adapted for use in forming splices between f meeting wires in connecting theends of tele- 5.. phone and other cable Vsections carrying a multiplicity of wires. n

An object of the invention is to provide a twisting device of novel and advantageous construction wherein the mechanism thereof 102 is carried and operated by two pivotally connected handles, normallyspaced from each other and capable of being operated like the handles of an ordinary pair of pliers, and wherein the operation of the twisting mecha- 15; nism is effected by the movement of the handles toward each other. Another object is to provide means for the engagement of the wires to be twisted at three spaced places and for the close twisting of the wiresy be- 201 tween two of said places and for the more open twisting of the wires between two of said places. Another object is to` provide means for cutting the wires after the twisting thereof. Another object is to 25 provide means for the discharge of the discarded cutoff ends of the wires following the twisting and cutting thereof.v

With the foregoing and related objects in View, the invention consists of thefelements 3a' and the combinations of them hereinafter described and claimed. y

. In the accompanying drawings, illustrat ingthe invention,

igure 1 is a front view of a wire twisting Si' device showing one form of embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side view thereof.` Figure 3 is a top view thereof. Figure 4 is a section through the wire V4(1 twisting mechanism, on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a section through the wire twisting mechanism, on line 5 5 of Fig. 4, showing the end portions of two wires to be spliced therein and showing one of the wire .45' clamps in the closed position clamping the wires.

Figure 6 is a transverse section through the wire twisting mechanism on line 6-6 of Fig. 5. c

is a sectional detail showing a inserted into and projected through the bushpart of the mechanism foroperating one of the wire clamps.

Figure 8 is a view of the two kwires shown in Fig. 5 showing the condition thereof after the same have been twisted by the device and the discarded portions thereof cut and rel moved therefrom. Referring to the drawings, 2 and 3 designate two handles which arel pivotally con? nected at 7. rlhe handle 2 is provided with a supporting arm 8 which projects ixedly therefrom, and the handle 3 is provided with an operating arm 9 whichvprojects xedly therefrom. The handles 2 and 3 are held normally in the separated or open position, shown in the drawings, by a suitable spring 10, interposed between and lconnected to them, and the parts are constructed and related4 so that the handles may be grasped in one hand and, by the pressure thereof, moved toward each other against the resilient action of the spring to move the arms 2 and 3 toward .each other, similar to the action of a pair of pliers; and, after the handles have been thus moved toward each other and the pressure of the hand causing such movement has been removed, the spring 10 will return the' handles 2 and 3 and the arms 8 and 9 to the open or normal position in the hand of the user, for a succeeding closing operation.

Projecting from the supporting arm 8 and rigidly secured thereto by means of al screw 11 is a cylindrical member 12 which forms, in effect, an integral part of the arm 8. The member 12 has a central, longitudinally 'eX- tending bushing 18 suitably secured therein. The bushing lextends from the inner end of the member 12 to a vpoint near the outer end thereof and the Central bore or passage 14 provided by the bushing is lmade flaring at its outer end and joins and forms a-continuation of a flaring opening inthe outer end portion of the member 12, as shown in the drawings, to permit wires easily to be ing from the outer end of the member 12.

. The inner end portion of the member l2' has an axial bore or opening formed therein which houses a bevel gear wheel 15 which is rotatably mounted on the inner endy porvthe segment. 2O is concentric with the pivot of the handles tion of the bushing 13. The hub of the gear wheel has an annular groove 16 therein which receives a projection on the inner end of the screw 11 to prevent longitudinal displacement of the gear wheel on the bushing 13.

The gear wheel 15 coacts with a bevel gear wheel 17 xed on a shaft 18. One end portion of the shaft 18 turnsin a bearing on the supporting arm 8 and the other end portion of the shaft 18 turns in a bearing formed in one side of the bushing 13. Fixed on the shaft 18 is a pinion 19 which is in mesh with a toothed segment 20. One end of the segment v20 is embraced by the bifurcated end of the operating arm 8 and connected thereto by means of a screw 21 which extends through the arm 8 and through a slot 22 in The curvature of the segment 2 and 3, and the segment extends between and is held in place by the pinion 19 and a part 23 of the supporting arm 8. The operating arm'9 has a lea-f spring 24 secured thereto by means of a screw 25, and the free end portion of the spring 24 bears against the adjacent .end of the segment 20 and maintains one end wall of its slot 22 ynormally in con- `tact with the screw 21, as shown in Fig. 1, to

provide a yielding connection between the segment and the arm 8 for a purpose hereinafter explained. `When the handles 2 and 3 are moved toward each other, the segmentl .2O is projected through the `space between the pinion 19 and part 23 and rotates the pinion and bevel gear wheels 15 and 17, and the extent of the projection of the segment 1s limited by a shoulder 26 thereon engaging .the'part 23 of the supporting arm 8.

The bevel gear wheel 15 is adapted to rotate a wire twisting device 27 which is arranged in axial alinement with and inwardly of the cylindrical member 12. The wire twistingdevice 27 has a centrally arranged,

telescopic, hollow shaft 28 formed by upper and lower telescopic sections -29 and 30, ,respectively. The upper end of the upper section 29 is spaced from the flush ends of the member12 and hub of bevel gear wheel 15 the section 30 has ahead or member 34 formed thereon and the lower end of. the section 30 has a collar 35 secured thereon below the bushing 32. Encircling the section 3Q between the head 34 and a washer on the bushing 32 is a helical spring 36 which urges the section 30V upwardly through the bushing. Normally the collar 35 engages the bottom of the bushing 32 and limits the upward movement of the section 30 therethrough, as shown in Fig. 4.

The top of the bushing 32 has an annular flange 37 formed thereon which extends over the arm 33, and the opposing surfaces of the flange 37 and arm 33 have oppositely disposed annular grooves formed therein to provide a raceway-for an annular series .of balls to provide an antifriction 4thrust bearing between the bushing 32 and the arm 33.

Surrounding the upper telescopic shaft sectionf29 beneath a head 38 thereon is a slidable collar 39 having lu s 40 extending outwardly from opposite sides thereof, and fu-lcrumed in these lugs, at 41, are two oppositely disposed clamp levers 42. The upper ends of these levers have clamping arms 43 formed thereon which extend inwardly over the upper end of the upper shaft section 29 in close proximity thereto, and the lower ends of the levers 42 have arms 44 formed thereon, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and ,5.

One side of the clamp arms 43 are adapted to contact with a flat surface of the arm 31 connecting the shaft section 29 and bevel gear wheel 15 to cause the levers 42 and the collar 39 to rotate with the section 29, and one side of the levers 42 are in close proximity to and adapted to contact with a transversely ex tending wall 45 formed on the head 34 to' cause the lower'shaft section 30 to rotate with the upper section 29. Y

The upper end of the head 34 is provided with downwardly and outwardly inclined cam surfaces 46 and with additional downwardly and outwardly inclined cam surfaces 47 extending from the lower ends of the surfaces 46 at steeper inclines relatively thereto. These surfaces are adapted to engage the inner ends of the lever arms 44 for a purpose hereinafter explained. The wallk 45 is pro,- vided with lugs 48 which project over the 1ever arms 44 and which are adaptedV to engage the same for a 'purpose hereinafterl described.

The carrying arm 33'for the bushing 32, at the lower end of the wire twisting device, projects fixedly from the lower end of a shaft 49 which is arranged laterally of and parallel to the telescopic shaft 28. This shaft 49 is slidable longitudinally in abearing 50 formed on the supporting'arm 8 and having bifurcated head 51formed on or secured to the upper end thereof and embracing the segment 20. The supporting-arm 8 is provided with a projection or bracket 52 on which a lever 53 is fulcrumed, at 54. The lever 53 is provided with an arm-55 having a rounded. free end which rests normally in a socket 56 formed in the bottom of the free end portion ofthe segment 20, and! it is also provided with an arm 57 which extends into the bifurcated head 51 between the base portion thereof and a transverse pin 58 connecting the sides of the head'51.

' The lever 53 is so related to the segment 20 that when the handles 2 and 3 are moved toward each other the segment 2O will be projected over the lever arm and move it out of the socket 56 and thereby rock it on its fulcrum 54 from the position shown by full lines in Fig. 7, to the position shown by dotand-dash lines therein, and the bottom of the segment v20 will prevent they return ofthe 1everf53 to the full line position until the handles2 and 3 and segment 2O are returned tothe normal position. When the handles and segment are returned to normal position, a projection 59 onthe free end of the segment 20 engages the lever arm 55 and moves it back into the socket 56 and thereby returns the lever 53 to the normal position. The lever 53 is thus operated by the segment 2O for the purpose of operating the wire clamping levers 42 ofthe wire twisting devicek 27, as will be hereinafter described.

The cylindrical member 12 carries a wire clamping lever60 which is located within a slot which extendsthrough one side of the member 12 and through one side of the bushing 13. The lever 60 is fulcrumed at 61 on the bushing 13, and it has an arm 62 which is adapted to enter the bore 14 ofthe bushing 13 and clamp wires therein between'the free end of the lever arm 62 and the opposing wall of the bushing bore. The lever 60 has another arm 63 which extends outwardly from themember 12 and has its free end pivotally connected to a head 64 on the lower end'of a pin 65 whose upper end portion is slidablein a bracket 66 which projects tixedlyV from the member 12. Encircling the pin 65 between the head 64 thereon and the bracket 66 is a helical spring 67 which urges the leverarm 62 into wire clamping positionv within the bushing bore 14 and which urges the lever arm 63 into contact with the upper or opposing surface of a segmental cam plate 68 which controls the movements of the lever 60. One end of the cam plate 68 is pivoted, at 69, to a bracket 70 which'is formed on the operating arm 9, and the other end portion of the cam plate 68 is slidably connected to the member 12 by a plate or block 71 which is secured within the slot in the member 12 and which projects therefrom through a long slot 72 in the cam plate 68 and has a retaining head 7 3 on the outer end thereof between which and the member 12 the cam plate 68 is adapted to move. The curvature of the slot 72 in the cam plate 68 is concentric with the pivot of the handles 2 and 3, and the upper or lever arm opposing surface of the cam plate 68 is provided with two spaced raised vportions 74 and 75 and an interposed depressed portion 76 and with suitable inclined portions connecting them, as shown in Fig; 1; and when the handles 2 and 3 are moved toward each other, said porl tions will control the movements of the wire clamping lever 60, as will be presently described.

The operating arm 9 carries a wire cuttingA and sever wires extending through the bushr ing 13 and telescopic shaft v28y during the final movement of the handles 2 and 3 when they are moved toward each other for the operation'of the device.

The handles 2 and 3 are constructed to be grasped in one hand of a workman and forced toward each other from the normal position shown inFig. 1,l against the actionV ofthe spring 10 to cause the segment 20, the cam plate 68 and the knife 7 7 carried by the operating arm to sweep through and across the mechanism and parts carried by the supporting arm 8; and, thereafter, the pressure on the handles is released and the spring 10 returns them and the parts carried thereby to the normal or vopen position; and one complete cycle of operations of the mechanism of the device takes place during'this in and out movement of the handles 2 and 3.

The operation of the device is` as follows:

rlhe end portions of two wires 80 (Fig. 5) to be spliced are brought together and a preliminary twist 81 of one or two turns is given to them by hand and the free end portions of the wires extending fromthe twist 81 are inserted into the outer end of the member 12 and bushing 13 and projected through the same and through the hollow telescopicshaft 28 by hand until the portions of ,the'wires which extend laterally from the twist 81 to the spaced ends of the cable sections carrying them engage the outer end of the member 12, as shown in Fig. 5. vVhenthe wires 8O are thus inserted, the clamping levers 42 are in the open position shown in Fig. 1, and the wires 80 are held in a taut condition, or substantially so, between the preliminary twist 81 therein and the ends of the cable sections from which the wires project.

The wires 8O having been thus inserted into the device, the workman, holding the handles 2 and 3 in the grasp of one hand, forces the handles toward each other while a linger of the other hand holds the wires against the outer end of the member 12 during the initial movement of the handles toward each other. During the initial movement of thehandles toward each other, the segment 20 moves the lever 53 from the full line .position shown in Fig. 7 to the dot-anddash line position shown therein, and thisA ipo ist

CII

operation .causes 'the lever arm 57 to engage the pin 58 and slide the shaft 49 upwardly or 'outwardly and cause the arm 33 and bushing 32 to move toward the cylindrical member 12. As the bushing 32 moves toward the member 12, it causes the spring' 36 to move the head 34 and lower telescopic shaft section 30 toward the member 12.l The 'first movement of the head 34 causes the levers 42 to raise the collar 39 into engagement with the head 38 Von the upper telescopic shaft section 29, and, thereafter, the upward movement of the collar 39 ceases, and the continued kmovement of the head 34 causes its f inclined Vsurfaces 46 and 47 to' force the lower ends of the levers 42 apart and the upper ends thereof toward each other until-the clamping arms 43 engage and firmly clamp the wires S'Clb'etween them', as sho-wn in Figs. 5 and 6. After the wires 8O have been thus clamped by the arms 43, further upward movement of the head 34 is prevented thereby, and, thereafter, as the lever 53 completes its movement to the dot-and-dash line position, the bushing'32'1noves away from th-e'collar 35 on the lower' end of the lower shaft section 30 and compresses the spring 36 and causes the clamp arms 42 to firmly clamp the wires 80 with a yieldable pressure which will compensate for variations in the wires and permit wires of varying diameters to be clampedand firmly held without any adjustment of parts of the device. After the clamping arms 43 have engaged the wires 80, the workman may remove his linger from its position holding the wires in contact with the outer end of the member 12.

Ab'out'the time that the clamping arms 43 are moved into clamping position, or immediately thereafter, the high portion 74 of the cam plate G8 moves from beneath or out of contact with the lever arm 63 and permits the spring G7 to operate the lever 60 to move the arm ('32 thereof into the bore of the bushing 13l and clamp the wires 8O therein at a point spaced from the clamping arms 43.

The toothed segment 2O starts to rotate the wire twisting device 27 immediately7 after the handles 2 and 3 start their movement toward each other and it continues to rotate the device 27 and cause it to twist the wires together between clamping arm 62 of the lever 60 and the clamping arms 43 of the levers 42 until the portions of the wires extending between the two clamps have been closely twisted together in the condition shown below the line 82 in Fig. 8. This done, the high portion of the cam plate 68 engages the arm 63 of the clamping lever 60 and moves the clamping arm 62 thereof out from within the bore of the bushing 13 and causes it to release the wires 8() therein; and, thereafter, the continued rotation of the twisting device. under the influence of the continued movement of the handles 2 and 3 toward i ,JS 91,6621 "3 each other, Icauses thel twisting device 27to" produce the more open twists inthe wires 8O between lthe parts thereof` previously "en-V gaged 'by the clamping end of the lever arm' 62 and thel preliminary twists 81 in the wires" the line 82` in 80, as illustrated a't 83 above F ig. 8.

After the open twists 83 have been pro-v duced in the wires 80, thetwisting device comes to rest with the Aarm 31 connecting it withthe bevel gear wheel 15 out of thev path of movement 'of the projecting arm 78 ofthe wire cutting knife 77 and the further rota-v tion of the device 27 is prevented by the en-y gagement of the shoulder 26 of the segment 20 with the part 23 of the 'supportingarm 8,"

while the spring 24, engaging the end vof the" segment 20, yields and permits the final movement of the handles 2 and 3 toward each.

other.

On or about the time the twisting device 27 ceases to rotate, the cutting edge 79 of the knife arm 78 moves across the inner end of the bore 14 in the bushing 13 in 'close proximity to the inner end of the bushing and engages and severs the twisted wires',`

substantially in the plane of the vinnerend of the bushing, as the final movement of the handles 2.and 3 toward each other takesplace.'

After the twisted wires have been severed, as .just described, the workman permits the spring 10 to return the handles 2 and 3 to the normal, open position shown in Fig. 1, and the. return o-f the handles to the normall position effects the return of the several parts of the mechanism of the device to the normal position; and, when the lever 53 is retu-rnec'll to the full line position, shown Fig. 7 ,V in thus being returned to normal position, it

lowers the shaft 30 and arm 49 until the bushing 32 engages the collar 35 and prevents further relative movement between the arm 33 and lower shaft section 30, and, thereafter,`

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during the final downward .movement of the arm 33, the head 34 on the shaft section 30 is moved downwardly causing its lugs 48 to engage the arms 44 of the levers 42 and move the lower ends of the levers toward each other for the separation of their clamping f arms 43 to the open position shown in Fig-1,. thereby completing the return of all the parts to the normal position for a succeeding wire twisting operation. Y

When the levers 42 are restored to the normal position, the separation of the clamping" arms 43 thereof releases the cut-'ofil end portions of wires previously clamped, thereby and suoli cut-off end portions are discharged by gravity from their position within the i izo ` 25., tions, meansto'rotate said device, and means ing them connected with twisted portions asl shown in` Fig. 8.

It will be understood that the outer end portions of the member l12 and bushing 13 therein constitute one means for receiving and holding the wires to be twisted, that the clamping arms 42V constitute another means' for receiving and holding the said wires, and that the lever arm 62 and the opposing wall of the bushing 13 constitute a third means for receiving and holding the said wires, and

I :that the said third means is located between and spaced from the two means first mentioned, for the production of the long or open wire twists between the first and third named j means, and for the production of the short orV A compact wire twists between the second and l thirdnamed means.

'I claim: n Y

l. The combination of a support, means i thereon for receiving and holding a pair of wires, a rotatable twisting device, a wire clamp carried by the twisting device and movable thereon into closed and open posito operate said clamp.

2. The combination of a support, means thereon for receiving and holding a pair of Vwires, a rotatable twisting device, va wire' clamp carried by the twisting device and f movable thereon into closed and open positions, means to rotate said device, means to operate said clamp, and means for cutting thewires between the first named means and the clamp.

3. The combination of a support, vvmeansthereon for receiving and holding apair of vnwires, a'rotatable twisting device, a wire vclamp carried by the twisting device and Vmovable thereon into closed and open posip tions, a second wire clamp carried by the support and located between and spaced from said means and the first named clamp, means to close said clamps, means to openfthe first named clamp, and means to open said second clamp after the opening of the first named clamp. ,x

4. The combination .of a support, means thereon for receiving and holding a pair of wires, a rotatable twisting device, a wire clamp carried by the twisting deviceV and .movable thereon into closed and open positions, a second wire clamp carried by the support and located between and spaced from said means and the first named clamp, means to close said clamps, means to open the first named clamp, means to open said second clamp after the opening of the first named clamp, and means for cutting the wires between said clamps. 5. The combination of a support, a rotatable twisting device, a wire clamp carried by Y the twisting device and movable thereon into closed and open positions, a second wire clamp carried by the support in spaced relationv to the first named clamp, means to rotate said device, and means to close and open said clamps.

6. The combination of a support, a rotatable twisting device, a wire clamp carried by the twisting device and movable thereon into closed and open" positions, a second wire clamp carried by the support in spaced relationto the first named clamp, means torotate said device, means to closeiand opensaid clamps, and means for cutting the wires between said clamps.

7. The combination of a support, means thereon for receiving and holding a pair of wires, a hollow shaft adapted to receive said wires, y'a rotatable twisting deviceassociated withsaid shaft, means torotate said device, a wire clamp carried by the twisting device and movable thereonv into closed and open positions, and means to close Vand open theif-"f' clamp.

8. The combination of a support, means thereon for receiving and holding a pair of wires, a lhollow shaft adapted to receive said wires, a rotatable twisting device associatedtff ing an axial opening extending through the same to receive said wires, means -to rotate said device, a wire clamp carried by the twisting device and movable thereon into closed and open positions, and means to close and open the clamp.

' 10. The combination of a support, means vthereon for receiving and holding a pair of wires, a' hollow rotatable shaft adapted to re-l ceive said wires, a wire clamp carried 'by the shaftand movable thereoninto closed and" open positions, a member movable longitudinally of the shaft, means for 'moving said member, means operated by said member when moved in one direction to close the clamp, and means operated by said membervk when movedin the reverse direction to open the clamp.

ll. The combination of a support, means thereon for receiving andholding. a pair of.

wires, a hollow rotatable shaft adapted to" `receive said wires, a wire clamp carried by the shaft and movable thereon into closed and open positions, a member kmovable longitudinally of the shaft, yieldable means for moving said member, means operated by said v member whenmoved 1n one direction to close the clamp, and means operated by said member when moved in the reverse direction to open the clamp. n l, t

l2. The combination of a support, meansV thereon for receivingand holding a pair'of wires, a hollow rotatable shaft adapted to receive said wires, a wire clamp carried by the-shaft and movable thereon into closed and open positions, a member movable longitudinally of the shaft, an operating arm for said member, means for moving said arm, a yieldable operating connection between said arm and saidl member, meansA operated by said member when moved in one directionto close the clamp, and means operated by said member when moved in the reverse direction to open the clamp.`

13. The combination of a support, means thereon. for receiving and holding a pair of wires,l a rotatable twisting device provided with a wire-clamphaving a pivotallymounted arm movableinto clamping and releasing positions, a reciprocable member, means to reciprocate said membermeans operated by said member when moved in one direction to move said arm into clampingY position, and means opera-ted by said member when moved inthe reverse direction-to move said arm into releasing position.

14.. The eomb'nation of a support, means thereon for receiving and holding a pair of wires,l a rotatable twisting device provided with a clampl having a pair of opp'ositely disposed pivotally mounted arms adapted to receive said wires between them and movable into clamping and. releasing positions, a re- Y ciprocable member, means toreciprocate said member, means operated by said member whenl moved 1n one direction to move said arms into1 clamping position, andf meansoptherewith,and means opera-ted by said operating arm. for rotatingsaid device.

erated. by said member when moved in the reverse direction to move said armsinto releasing position.

15. The combination ofa support, means thereon for receiving and holdingv a pair of wires, a rotatable twisting device, means on said device forengagingl said Wires and causing` them torotate therewith, a part movable on the support intoy and out of an operative position engaging said wires and preventing the twisting thereof between and in spaced relation to the first named means andv said device, means to rotate said device, and means tofmoveY said part into and out of said operative position.

16. The combination of a support, means thereon for receiving andholding a pair of wires, a rotatable twisting device, meanson said device for engaging saidwires and causingthem to rotate therewith, a part movable on the support into and; out of an operative position engaging said wires and preventing the twisting thereofrbetweenand in spaced relation to the first named means and said device, meansto rotate said device, means to move'said part into andout of said operative position, andj means for cutting said wires between said part and said device.

17. The combination of` a. support, means thereon for receiving and holding a. pairof Wires, a rotatable twisting device, means, on saiddevice for engaging said wires and causing them to rotate therewith, an arm pivotally mounted on the support and movable intoI and out ofV an operative position engaging said wires and preventing the twisting thereof betweenand in spacedrelation to the first named means and said device, means t0 rotate4 said device, a cam for moving said arm, and means for moving sai'dcam. 18. The combination ofV a support, means thereon for receiving and holding a. pair of wires, a rotatable twisting device,means on said, device for engaging said wires and` caus-,

ing theinto` rotate therewith,.an arm pivotally mounted on the support and movablelinto and out of an operative, position, engaging said wires and preventing the twisting thereof between and in spaced relation tofthe first named means and said device, means to ro` tate said device, a springurgingsaid' armltloward its operative position, a cam forfmoving saidV arm fromits operative positiomfand means for moving said. cam.

1'9. The combination ofa pair of pivotally connected handlesmovable toward each other froml a normal position spaced' fromeach other, one kof saidvk handles having asupporting arm extending therefrom and the othery of said handles having an operating armextending therefrom, means onthe supporting arm for receiving and holding a pair Vof wires, a rotatable twisting device carried by the supporting arm and provided withmeans v.

to receive said wires and cause 'them to rotate 20. The combination of a pair ofpivotally connected handles movable toward each other.

from a normal position spaced from each other, one of said handles having a supporting arm extending therefromandl the other of said handles having an operalnng arm eX- tending therefrom, means on the supporting arm for receiving and holdingV a pair of" wires, a rotatable twisting device carried by the supporting arm and Vprovided withmeans to receive said wires and Cause them to rotate therewith, a gearracl, operatedV by said operatiiig arm, and gearing carried by the supporting arm and operatively connected to Vsaid rack and to said device to rotate the latter.

21. The combinationof a pair of pivotallyz connected handles movable toward each otherV from a normal position spaced from each other. one of said handles having a supporting arm extending therefrom and the other of said handles having an operating arm eX- tending therefrom,.means on the supporting arm for receiving laaid holding `a pair of wires,v a rotatable Vtwisting device a wire clamp carried by the twisting device and' movable thereon into closed. andfopenposi-- BEST AVAILABLE COPY tions, means operated by said operating arm for rotating said device, and means operated by saidoperating arm to operate said clamp.

22. The combination of a pair of pivotally connected handles movable toward each other from a normal position spaced from each other, one of said handles having aV supporting arm extending therefromand the other of said handles having an operating arm eX- tending therefrom, means on the supporting arm for receiving and holding a pair of wires, a rotatable twisting device carried by the supporting arm and provided with means to receive said wires and cause them to rotate therewith, a. part carried bythe supporting arm and movable into and out of an operative position engaging said wires and preventing v the twisting thereof between and in spaced relation to the first named' means and said device, means operated by said operating arm for rotating said device, and means operated by said operating arm to move said part into and out of said operative position.

23. The combination of a pair of pivotally connected handles movable toward each other from a normal position spaced from each other, one of said handles having a supporting arm extending therefrom and the other of said handles having an operating arm eX-f tending therefrom, means on the supporting arm for receiving and holding a pair of wires,

a rotatable twisting device c arried by the supporting arm and provided with means to receive said wires and cause them to rotate therewith, means operated by said operating arm for rotating said device, and a knife carried by said operating arm and operated thereby to cut said wires.

24. The combination of a pair of pivotally connected handles movable toward each other from a normal position spaced from each other, one of said handles having a supportspaced relation to the first named means and i said device, means operated by said operating arm for rotating said device, meansoperated by said operating arm to move said part into and out of said operative position, and av knife carried by said operating arm and operated thereby to cut said wires. I

In. testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

ORSON W. BRENIZER.

ing arm extendingtherefrom and the other of said handles having an operating arm extending therefrom, means on the supporting arm for receiving and holding a pair of wires, a rotatable twisting device, a wire clamp carried by the twisting device and movable thereon into closed and open positions, means operated by said operating arm for rotating said device, means operated by said operating arm to operate said clamp, and a knife carried by said operating arm and operated thereby to cut said wires.

25. The combination of a pair of pivotally connected handles movabletoward each other from a normal position spaced from eachl other, one of said handles having a supporting arm extending therefrom and the other of said handles having an operating arm ex- Y tending therefrom, means on the supporting arm for receiving and holding a pair of wires, a rotatable twisting device carried by the supporting arm and provided with means to receive said wires and cause them to rotate 

